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A third-culture kid (TCK / 3CK) or trans-culture kid is"someone who, as a child, has spent a significant period of time in one or more cultures other than his or her own, thus integrating elements of those cultures and their own birth culture, into a third culture."

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Getting To Know Your Fellow Canadian

This
weekend, I figured we should continue on the road to higher learning, following
the trend of last week’s blog on Canadian expressions. I am proud of you all
for successfully passing the course (little did you know I was keeping score). Your
certificates are all in the mail. Now, we need to go beyond just sounding
Canadian.

In
order to truly fit in among the building blocks of different cultures and
traditions, I have always found it essential to discover as much as I can such
as: what is issues to they relate to, what activities do they enjoy, what
should you avoid mentioning, what is the national protocol for shaving, etc.
Here are some of elements – not ranked in any particular order - that make
Canadians who they are.

1.Nature: Canada’s playground

For
the most part, we are urban people (about 80% of us). Our daily battlefield is
on the asphalt streets in between concrete structures and glass towers where we
ride subways, buses and trains holding our trusty cup of Tim Horton’s coffee.
Canadian civilization would disappear without coffee. We are among the
better-connected civilizations in the world of communications and social media even
though competition in these markets is minimal.

Many
among us reward our responsible attitude and work ethic with a well-deserved
retreat into the wild with our friends, our families or even just on our own.
We need that escape into the country. It doesn’t matter if it is 30 degrees or
30 below outside. We enjoy the gift of nature and the space we have within our
borders to hike, skate, canoe, ski, camp or anything else we can think of do to
outdoors. That is time to disconnect from the technology that runs that other
life we left back home.

2.Patriotism with tolerance

During
my time in Europe and Latin America, I noticed that many countries’ national
flags are displayed primarily in government offices or during official
functions. In other countries, the flag symbolizes nationalism with a twist of
exclusion. To think that days of racial and ethnic tension are far in the past
is to deny a true sense of an alarming reality.

You
will notice that we hang our flag high. People wear toques, shirts, jackets and
caps (even hang a flag in their living room) as a sign of love and respect for a
country that accepts. We are a country of immigrants – including those who left
England and France to colonize the brave New World – and we are proud to continue
to welcome those fleeing persecution or simply looking for a fresh start.

3.There is always time for manners

In
general, Canadians are not “in-your-face” people. We enjoy peace, quiet and
most importantly, personal space. I know you might be thinking: “Sounds like a
land of retirees.” We know some people need a taste of the wild life, eccentric
living and borderline rude behaviour, which is why we have Montreal, Toronto
and Vancouver. We basically treat people the way we expect to be treated. Keep
it simple.

4.It’s all about hockey

Some
people founded religions while others built great public works to stand the
test of time. For a Canadian, it’s all about hockey. We have an NBA basketball
team, an MLB baseball team, a few MLS teams, but we also have several Stanley
Cups – the highest honour in the world of hockey gifted by Lord Stanley himself.
Hockey and the weather give Canadians plenty to talk up a storm! Here’s a fact
few people outside of Canada know: we saved the world from a nuclear apocalypse
by schooling the Soviets in hockey back in the 70s. You’re welcome world!

5.Social Healthcare

Ok,
sure our hospitals are not what they used to be. Our public medicine is hurting
but it is still spectacular for emergency treatment. Is healthcare in Canada
free because we are a bunch of commies? Nope. We pay taxes every year to keep
our hospitals going, our doctors smiling and our patients out as soon as
possible. There is no better feeling than leaving a hospital after an operation
without wondering how on earth you will pay off a huge bill in thousands of
instalments.

I
hope this second course in our lesson plan sheds is up to your standards.
Should you have any complaints or may be looking to demand a refund, please head
on down to the Canada Post Office in the Peggy’s Cove lighthouse that closed a
couple of years ago. They have plenty of time to deal with the public now.
Thanks for tuning in once more my friends and see you next week!